Screenshot thread

[schru]

Replaying Hand Of Fate, but this time I used Sound Canvas VA, thanks to schru . The music really sounds better with it, I'll need to use it for more titles that can use it.

I'm glad that you've taken note of my advice, but you might want to compare if in this case that is actually better than the MT-32 emulation. According to the MT-32 games list (https://www.vogonswiki.com/index.php/List_of_MT-32-compatible_computer_games), the game's music was composed on the SC-55, but when I try to launch it it ScummVM (with which I have almost no prior experience), the emulator says that the game only supports Roland MT-32 MIDI, rather than General MIDI.

Also, while the back cover lists General MIDI as one of the supporter sound formats, the manual itself doesn't, while both list MT-32.

When I listen to the introduction music, it seems to me that the MT-32 variant might be better. It's not impossible that the SC-55 was used to compose the music, but then the latter was converted to formats for several specific music devices and only those formats were included in the game. SCC-1, the expansion-card derivative of SC-55, was released only in 1992, while LAPC-I, the counterpart for MT-32 had been available for quite a few years by then, so perhaps that was the reason; or the fact that many of those games that need to be emulated using ScummVM tended to be made with MT-32 in mind (wasn't there some collaboration deal with one of the major publishers?).

This isn't out of the question. For example, Bobby Prince, Id Software's earlier composer, created more elaborate versions of the tracks in Wolfenstein 3D and probably Duke Nukem II before converting the tracks to Adlib.

Do keep Sound Canvas VA for other games, though, particularly most of the major FPSes (notably Heretic's music was composed probably on Sound Blaster AWE32, but there's no way of emulating that). If it is the case that the game's music was meant for MT-32, it shouldn't be a problem, as it seems that its emulation is almost perfect.


Also, is that just the screenshots or are you playing without aspect ratio correction? The game should be in 4:3, I'm pretty sure.

 

[Fargus]

sigard

Yeah, it's the shotgun wedding slut Miria. With Endocore's Miria mod.

other mods

Restoration project (latest) and talking heads addon by GoatBoy11.

 

[hayst]

Wizardry 8 run with pregen characters.

 

[Red Hexapus]

Really wish I had the Doomguy to help me with this goddamn "demon infestation".

 

[Don Peste]

Feeling cute

 

[Semiurge]

TR1 via Tomb1Main (TR1 Community Edition) + CRT Royale from ReShade

Open in full 2560x1440 resolution otherwise the scanlines will be fucked up.

Heavy NSFW

Spoiler

You have ruined it with those abominable scanlines.

 

[Arthandas]

You have ruined it with those abominable scanlines.

Nah, you're just too stupid to open the images in native res and see how subtle they are.

 

[Semiurge]

You have ruined it with those abominable scanlines.

Nah, you're just too stupid to open the images in native res and see how subtle they are.

Of course I clicked them to native res. Why bother modernizing it with ReShade plugins, only to simulate a CRT flaw? The only benefit is that the lines help hide the aliasing of the blurry textures.

 

[Arthandas]

Of course I clicked them to native res.

If you just clicked them, then they're not anywhere near native res
I don't know your monitor or browser, so just save any of the screenshots and open it in Paint, then you'll see.

Why bother modernizing it

I'm using CRT-Royale, that's literally opposite of modernizing...
Also, I'm not going into "why emulate scanlines" territory, it has been done to death already.

 

[schru]

To be exact, isn't that an aperture grille pattern rather than scan lines?

The resolution used is probably still a little insufficient to give that shader enough pixels to work with, 2160p being preferable.

 

[Dadd]

To be exact, isn't that an aperture grille pattern rather than scan lines?

The resolution used is probably still a little insufficient to give that shader enough pixels to work with, 2160p being preferable.

If you're using ReShade for CRT-Royale, I read that you should use normal resolution. Those lines look too small to me.

 

[Vic]

View attachment 33574

hell yea, go for Thailand.

btw, how is EU ( I assume) compared to Civilization? I'm having really mixed feelings about Civ because it's such a time sucker and feels a bit cuckish.

 

[Abu Antar]

 

[JarlFrank]

TR1 via Tomb1Main (TR1 Community Edition) + CRT Royale from ReShade

Open in full 2560x1440 resolution otherwise the scanlines will be fucked up.

Heavy NSFW

Spoiler

You have ruined it with those abominable scanlines.

The funniest part is that he uses scanlines to emulate the original style, but also uses a mod that increases view distance because in vanilla TR1 you couldn't see all the way down from the top in St. Francis' Folly.

What is it, bro? Either commit to authenticity fully or don't do it at all. No half-assing.

 

[Arthandas]

he uses scanlines to emulate the original style

No, I don't. I use scanlines because I like how they look against bare ps1 textures. Without them the game feels artificially clean.

uses a mod that increases view distance

That "mod" is an engine reimplementation that strives to fix every single bug in the game and allows it to be played on modern hardware. Increased view distance is just a nice extra.

commit to authenticity fully or don't do it at al

I don't give a shit about authenticity, I make the game look and play how I want it to look and play.

 

[Semiurge]

If you just clicked them, then they're not anywhere near native res
I don't know your monitor or browser, so just save any of the screenshots and open it in Paint, then you'll see.

Yes I noticed that the Xenforo image viewer doesn't seem to show them in the exact native resolution, it's close but seems as if the size is decreased slightly. Or it could be native. Either way I opened the images in a new tab where they get displayed as is, and they look the same regardless. The lines are not subtle.

I'm using CRT-Royale, that's literally opposite of modernizing...
Also, I'm not going into "why emulate scanlines" territory, it has been done to death already.

The interlacing of the FMVs was always a nuisance, so I can't imagine why anyone would want to apply the same on the game itself. The retro look is only acceptable when it doesn't diminish the visual quality. If the blurry vanilla textures are a problem, they can either be replaced, or you could disable all texture filtering to make the game look crisp.

 

[Crispy]

Exploring The Pit of Bzarkh, which is far below the city of Markarth.

No, this is not your daddy's Skyrim.

 

[Fedora Master]

But it's still shit.

 

[Crispy]

Well, I've got a full party of adventurers: I'm the mage, I have a healer (dark elf), an archer (another dark elf), two warriors (one an orc), and even a vampire in my party. I can fully control their inventory, how they fight, etc. Each has his or her own mount and bedroll.

I have to use careful planning of both tactics and strategy when it comes to attaining my goals, which are complex and far-reaching (compared to just facerolling through stock Skyrim). For example, attaining the incredibly powerful Staff of Magnus was an utter failure the first time I attempted it, and I needed to plan and grow for months of in-game time before I was ready to attempt it again, which took every bit of effort I could muster.

There are concerns for resource management, survival, storage, and even comfort. I own one home in one of the cities which is very thoughtfully designed and accessorized. I also as the new Archmage of the spell college have access to (compared to vanilla Skyrim) an amazing abode at the school's upper levels.

If all of these things were presented in an RPG that was both isometric and turn-based, you'd probably call it inclined.

Am I saying Skyrim is inclined? No. But I am saying Wildlander -- especially the way I'm playing it -- sure feels like actual Dungeons and Dragons, or nearly as close as a computer simulation of it can get.

COME AT ME, BRO.

 

[Vic]

Why not just play a real RPG at this point?

 

[Fedora Master]

Well, I've got a full party of adventurers; I'm the mage, I have a healer (dark elf), an archer (another dark elf), two warriors (one an orc), and even a vampire in my party. I can fully control their inventory, how they fight, etc. Each has his or her own mount and bedroll.

I have to use careful planning of both tactics and strategy when it comes to attaining my goals, which are complex and far-reaching (compared to just facerolling through stock Skyrim). For example, attaining the incredibly powerful Staff of Magnus was an utter failure the first time I attempted it, and I needed to plan and grow for months of in-game time before I was ready to attempt it again, which took every bit of effort I could muster.

There are concerns for resource management, survival, storage, and even comfort. I own one home in one of the cities which is very thoughtfully designed and accessorized. I also as the new Archmage of the spell college have access to (compared to vanilla Skyrim) an amazing abode at the school's upper levels.

If all of these things were presented in an RPG that was both isometric and turn-based, you'd probably call it inclined.

Am I saying Skyrim is inclined? No. But I am saying Wildlander -- especially the way I'm playing it -- sure feels like actual Dungeons and Dragons, or nearly as close as a computer simulation of it can get.

COME AT ME, BRO.

Who asked?

 

[Vic]

I never understood people who spend hours modding elder scrolls games, a polished turd is still a turd. That said, I'm not gonna spend my time doing the developer's work, I play my games vanilla, if it sucks then the game sucks, I'm not gonna try and fix it for them.

But if I do enjoy the game I'm happy to install mods to enhance the experience, but what's the point of these big overhaul mods.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

Fantasy General II

 

[Baron Dupek]

Painkiller - Supernatural 2.0
Don't be deceived by "2.0" numeration because it's still neither polished nor finished. And most likely won't be - it's been years since its release.

me after playing this mod

Played that one to see if the maps from other Painkiller games (not released by original creators, but fans and modders) in more polished form. Turns out they were only a bit better than original (mostly by cutting down loading times, unless you save in certain spots which cause makes loading way longer for some reasons), but still with some shit ideas because modders gonna modders of course. Add that soviet sadomasochistic tendencies from STALKER mods and you can get the picture.
Speaking of STALKER there's power plant level with anomalies - both effects and sounds borrowed from GSC production.

Some requirements for tarot cards were quite brutal. No souls or ammo collected on 500+ mobs maps? Truly Pain and Killer...
Surprisingly one level that requires all secrets was easy, except one. Why?
Invisible walls.
If you check any gameplay videos with secrets hunting (or you've played the game yourself) you would see a lot of bunny hopping, jumping and hugging obstacles/walls to reach the higher points.
This modder was toxic and sadistic enough to put random invisible walls (or even "death zones" that nuke your character, forcing reload your save) making the hunt even more obnoxious. Bonus point for putting them near death zones like water or spikes or deadly heights. You won't see them, making the whole ordeal more confusing and obnoxious.

see this one? You could easily jump there even without bunny hopping, but some invisible wall is here and you just fall like a bitch.
Oh and this mod adds even more secrets to the levels.

First level from final chapter requires 3 shortcuts to be found. After wasting hours, in a level that should take at most 15min, I've realized way too late that you can't get that card without cheating. You have to either beat the level or get the shortcuts, which in turn get you stuck because scripts are breaking. With the powers of Powermad mod you activate noclip, get the shortcut, return to the previous position and continue.

this is the whole collection, no more levels to beat. Nice sorting btw.
No idea what Perfect Warrior gives, or random artifacts around the maps. No text or visual changes, nothing.

There's X-Files section avaiable with more maps, some of them bugged and unfinished. Those working are quite brutal, throwing a lot of accurate shooting enemies.

Spoiler

still got the card

There are other PK mods (Reload, Lost Alpha, Fear Factor and others) but they are similar - some changes and sadistic difficulty level, especially secrets. Which explains why commercial Painkillers like Recurring Evil, Redemption and Resurrection (none of the made by original team People Can Fly) were garbage.
There are some things from Necrovision like vampiric rifles+magic gauntlet and some enemies.
Plus OP rifles from alpha/beta version of PK.
They share the engine, which makes assets porting easier. Similar case with Metro assets in STALKER mods even though it's not officialy confirmed that they share the code.

 

[NecroLord]

Exploring The Pit of Bzarkh, which is far below the city of Markarth.

No, this is not your daddy's Skyrim.

What have you done to Serana, Crispy?